By Sonny Jones
OMG! That weekend of NFL playoff games couldn’t be real, could it? Three games decided when the kicker for the visiting team kicked a field goal on the final play of the game, then the final game determined in overtime. Were we watching a video game?
There were 25 points scored in the final 1:54 of regulation before Kansas City beat Buffalo 42-36 in overtime Sunday to advance to its fourth consecutive AFC championship game. Patrick Mahomes connected with Travis Kelce for the winning score. Buffalo appeared to have it won with a touchdown with 13 seconds left, but the Chiefs’ Harrison Butker kicked a 49-yard field goal to tie it at the end of regulation.
Matt Gay kicked a 30-yard field goal on the final play Sunday that gave the Los Angeles Rams a 30-27 victory against defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay had tied the game with 42 seconds left after trailing 27-3 midway through the third quarter.
Saturday, rookie Evan McPherson booted a 52-yarder that gave Cincinnati a 19-16 win at Tennessee. Veteran Robbie Gould kicked a 45 yard field goal in the snow as San Francisco knocked off Green Bay 13-10.
Four divisional playoff games decided by a total of 15 points. WWE couldn’t have scripted a better show.
There’s no way the conference championship games nor the Super Bowl can top the divisional games … can they?
• Heads or tails? It all came down to a coin flip. The NFL’s overtime rules will be much discussed this week after Buffalo’s offense never had the ball in its loss at Kansas City. The Chiefs went 75 yards in eight plays to score the winning touchdown. If Kansas City had kicked a field goal, then Josh Allen and the Bills would have had an opportunity to counter.
It may be unfair, but I understand the NFL is trying to avoid games going extra long and risking the health of its players. What if Buffalo had scored and the game was tied at 43-all? The next score would win, but when would the next score come. Admittedly, in this game, it may not have taken long, but how long can the players continue to play?
We’ll see if the Kansas City-Buffalo game leads to an overtime rules change. What do you think?
• Intriguing boys’ basketball matchup Monday night scheduled at the Castle when West Bladen hosts East Bladen. East Bladen has won the past six games, including a 51-48 decision earlier this month when the Eagles rallied from a 19-point deficit. Overall, since 2006, West Bladen holds a 25-12 advantage, including a 14-game winning streak from 2006-2012.
• The East Bladen girls have a 37-1 record against West Bladen since 2007. The Knights’ lone win came in 2013 when they beat the Eagles 52-41. East Bladen won this year’s earlier meeting 56-23.
MONDAY’S WATCHING FROM THE COUCH
College Basketball
6 p.m. – Men: Boston College at Wake Forest (ACCN)
7 p.m. – Men: Louisville at Virginia (ESPN)
8 p.m. – Men: Virginia Tech at North Carolina (ACCN)
NBA
9 p.m. – Utah at Phoenix (NBATV)
NHL
7 p.m. – Vegas at Washington (NHLN)
Tennis
2 p.m. – Australian Open (ESPN2)
7 p.m. – Australian Open (ESPN2)
Sonny Jones can be reached at wibbyj@gmail.com.
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